Display device



Aug- 4, 1942 A. o. PlsER ETAL 25292389 DISPLAY DEVICE Filed sept. 19. 1941 Patente'd Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Alfred 0. Piser, Roslyn Heights, and Harry Konikoff, New York, N. Y.

Application September 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,528 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-37) This invention relates to an improved display device for use particularly in displaying articles in store windows, store counters and the like, the invention relating more particularly to a novel display apparatus designed for supporting shoes and other similar articles at any desired angle.

Shoe display devices have for countless years consisted essentially of a rack'adapted to hold the shoe at an angle with the forward portion of the shoe positioned somewhat below the upper portion thereof. In recent years, however, irnprovements in design of both mens and womens shoes have rendered it desirable to support a shoe at different angles, as, for instance, to show some particularly novel feature of heel construction, sole construction, and also to display certain design eiects of the toes, instep and other portions of the shoe.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel and inexpensive shoe display device having improved clamping means for grasping the heel of the shoe and permitting adjustment of the shoe to display any desired feature of the article. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved display device of simplified construction and formed with only a minimum of structure in order that the display device, per se, will be relatively unnoticed by the prospective purchaser examining the shoe While so supported.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a display device of the character described which is provided With alternate means for grasping the heel portion of the shoe, and also being capable of insertion within the shoe to the end of displaying the sole or special features of sole construction. Still another object of the present invention is to provide improved clamping means for shoe display devices in general.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred em- '.bodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation. l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken section taken on 'line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form lof the invention wherein only a single supporting device is employed.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative use for the device vof the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows a modied structure of the invention constituting the present invention.

Fig. 8. is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The display device constituting the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a shoe heel clamping structure IB, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. One or a pair of these structures is mounted upon a stand including a vertical support, a universal joint being positioned between the structure and the vertical support. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a pair of the structures is shown as being mounted on a horizontal crossbar I I formed of any suitable flat sheet material, and at the center of the bar a rearwardly disposed bushing I2 is secured, such bushing also carrying a removable knurled nut I3 which receives one ball I4 of a ball-and-socket supporting device, the second ball I5 being joined to the first by means of a connector I6. Ball I5 is likewise secured on a bushing I8 by means of a similar knurled nut I9, and bushing I8 may be removably mounted at the upper end of a vertical support formed from any suitable tubular material. It will be appreciated, of course, that the invention is by no means limited to a vertical support, since it may be a horizontal member extending outwardly from a wall, or otherwise. Bushings I2 and I8 are each provided with the usual internal collar 20 which cooperates with the nut to support the ball for rotative movement during adjustment'of the clamping structure I0. Y

Each clamping structure I0 is formed from a fiat strip of sheet material and comprises a base portion 22 formed with bifurcated, outwardly turned, end portions 23, the outer terminals thereof being upwardly bent, as shown at 24, thus forming nger portions which engage the rear of the heel, as illustrated in Fig. l. At its forward end, base portion 22 may include an upwardly turned angular extension 25 having a threaded aperture 26 therein. The inner end of the heel is engaged by prongs 21 formed on an angular extension 28 of a plate 29 which is slidably carried on base portion 22. Flanges 2| are formed on each side of plate 29, and at the end of plate 29, opposite angular extension 28, there is formed, on each side thereof, an ear 30, and between the two spaced ears a pin 3| passes. Pin 3| carries a manually-actuated locking element 32 formed with a finger-engaging extension '33 at one end thereof, and with a journal portion 34 at its opposite end, within which portion pin 3| is received. One surface of base member 22 is made generally non-smooth, as by the transverse recesses 36. In order to permit movement of plate 29 relative to base portion 22, the journal portion may be flattened, as at 31.

When a shoe is to be mounted on the display device, such shoe is inverted in order that its heel portion faces upwardly. Finger portions 24 are then placed over the rear curved edge of the heel, and slidable plate 29 is pushed in the direction of fingers 24 to a point where prongs 21 engage the front edge of the heel, all as shown in Fig. 1. Clamping member 32 occupies a position reverse to that shown in Fig. 4 during this operation, in which position the plate is freely movable since flattened portion 31. does not firmly engage the non-smooth surface 35. As soon as the prongs are in firm engagement with the heel, the clamping member is moved through an arc to the position shown in Fig. 4, at which time slidable member 29 is rmly secured relative to base member 22.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, one of the clamping structures HJ is secured at one end of bar l l by means of a bolt 39 which is suitably welded to the rear surface of base 22, the bolt passing through an aperture (not shown) in such end of bar Il, and is secured therein by means of a wing nut 40. In order to secure adustment of the opposite supporting structure li), bar l I is formed at its opposite end with an elongated aperture 42. Bolt 39 from this supporting structure passes into such slot andmay be adjustable relative to bar Il within the limits of such slot.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, except that only a single supporting element I is provided, and on the lower side of base plate .22 is secured directly to bushing I2. In Fig. the fingers 24 are shown as having coverings 45, which may be formed from rubber or other suitable material, which will prevent the lingers from damaging the edges of the heel. In Fig. 6 the second use of the structure is shown, and in this instance threaded aperture 26 in angular extension 25 receives and supports a threaded bolt 45 having a spherical head 41. When the bottom portion of the shoe is to be displayed, a portion of a'shoe tree is inserted within the forward end of the shoe and the device inserted in the manner illustrated.

In Figs. "I, 8 and 9, the Y shaped base member 50 having the angular extensions 5| and fingers 52 is formed with a longitudinal slot 53. vSlidab-le plate 54, formed with angular extension and prongs 56, carries a screw 51 passing through the slot, the opposite end of the screw engaging a circular rotatable locking member 59 with a finger-engaging portion 60. A washer 6l engages the outer surface of locking member 59, the screw being ilattened as shown at 63. The locking member is formed on opposite sides with small raised portions 62 which engage the surface of base member 50 when finger-engaging portion 60 is in alignment with the base member, as shown in Fig. '1, thus locking plate 54. To release the latter, the locking member is rotated It will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made in connection with the foregoing structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the flattened portion 31 of locking element 32 may be omitted, and any other cam surface or other locking means substituted. In other Words, the embodiments described are illustrative only and are not to be taken in any limiting sense, the scope of protection being defined by the appended claim.

What we claim is:

In a shoe display device of the character described, the combination of a heel-gripping element comprising a substantially flat, elongated plate formed with a plurality of extensions forming a substantially Y shaped structure, inwardly turned portions at the terminal of each extension forming elements for engaging and supporting the rear edge of the heel, a resilient facing affixed to the heel-contacting surface to protect the heel against defacement, an angular member slidably carried on the elongated plate and being provided with an inwardly turned prong portion for engagement with the front Wall of the heel, means for securing such member in any desired position relative to the elongated plate comprising a pivoted cam element carried by the member and gripping Y the plate, a handle portion with an inwardly bent st op portion carried by said cam element to permit manipulation of the cam element, and supporting means for the plate comprising a substantially vertical, rigid supporting member and a double ballandsocket element connecting the upper end of the vertical support and the plate to permit adjustment of the heel-.gripping element to any desired plane.

ALFRED O. PISER. HARRY KONIKOFF. 

